I don't know who these guys are, but I intend to find out! They have a totally unique sound although I can detect some Elliott Smith/Morrissey/Shins influences in the music. Not only a super catchy melody, but beautiful, thought-provoking lyrics to boot. Especially love the lines "the decider says I'm a fighter, but I can't feel my fucking legs."
As far as the meaning, the whole first stanza seems to me to be expressing feelings of self-loathing, cynicism, futility, and nihilism. The message is very existentialist in my opinion. The idea that a farmer would hate his own livelihood seems bizarre and absurd, but also sadly makes sense in the world we are living in today.
Actually, the whole first stanza reminds me very much of Albert Camus' "The Stranger," just from the degree of apathy that is so evident throughout. Feelings of alienation, isolation, and loneliness are imbued in us by our culture. We are taught to not like ourselves from the media, advertising, religion (Western not Eastern), movies, and everything else that we are bombarded with. It's considered a crime to feel good about yourself, and if you dare to show that you do, be prepared to be torn down by those who are jealous and insecure. Amazing how we can pull our socks up and cope with devastating terrorist attacks, hopeless wars, and environmental disasters, but we can't seem to cope with our own feelings of fear and unworthiness. Isn't there something wrong with that picture?
This song = moving philosophical ear candy :)
I don't know who these guys are, but I intend to find out! They have a totally unique sound although I can detect some Elliott Smith/Morrissey/Shins influences in the music. Not only a super catchy melody, but beautiful, thought-provoking lyrics to boot. Especially love the lines "the decider says I'm a fighter, but I can't feel my fucking legs."
As far as the meaning, the whole first stanza seems to me to be expressing feelings of self-loathing, cynicism, futility, and nihilism. The message is very existentialist in my opinion. The idea that a farmer would hate his own livelihood seems bizarre and absurd, but also sadly makes sense in the world we are living in today.
Actually, the whole first stanza reminds me very much of Albert Camus' "The Stranger," just from the degree of apathy that is so evident throughout. Feelings of alienation, isolation, and loneliness are imbued in us by our culture. We are taught to not like ourselves from the media, advertising, religion (Western not Eastern), movies, and everything else that we are bombarded with. It's considered a crime to feel good about yourself, and if you dare to show that you do, be prepared to be torn down by those who are jealous and insecure. Amazing how we can pull our socks up and cope with devastating terrorist attacks, hopeless wars, and environmental disasters, but we can't seem to cope with our own feelings of fear and unworthiness. Isn't there something wrong with that picture?
See my comment below - I think the line about "the decider" is a jab at George W. Bush, who once called himself "the decider".
See my comment below - I think the line about "the decider" is a jab at George W. Bush, who once called himself "the decider".